MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT - THE STANDARDS AND GOALS PROCESS IN MASSACHUSETTS (FROM CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING, 1977 BY JOSEPH E SCOTT, AND SIMON DINITZ - SEE NCJ-44975)

• NCJ Number: 44984
• Author(s): T L SALTONSTALL
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Praeger Publishers
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

MASSACHUSETTS' EFFORTS TO RECTIFY PRISON AND PAROLE MANPOWER PROBLEMS THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF REALISTIC STANDARDS AND GOALS FOR MINORITY REPRESENTATION, STAFF DEVELOPMENT, AND EDUCATION AND TRAINING ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

CIVIL SERVICE LAWS AND PROCEDURES, COUPLED WITH A LACK OF INCENTIVE FOR EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF INSERVICE CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL, HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE LOW AVERAGE LEVEL OF EDUCATION OF MASSACHUSETTS' STATE CORRECTION OFFICERS. THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR VETERANS WHO WISH TO BECOME CORRECTIONS OFFICERS. APPROXIMATELY 84 PERCENT OF ALL STATE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS IN MASSACHUSETTS ARE VETERANS. THERE ARE FEW INCENTIVES OR RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO PERMIT INSERVICE OFFICERS TO PURSUE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE 21 HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE STATE, ONLY 4 SUCH PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE IN CORRECTIONS. ANOTHER MANPOWER PROBLEM RELATES TO THE RACIAL IMBALANCE BETWEEN CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL AND INMATES. HISTORICALLY, CORRECTIONS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN GENERAL HAVE FAILED TO GENERATE THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO FULFILL THEIR PUBLIC MANDATES. THE LEAA-MANDATED DEVELOPMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS WITHIN INDIVIDUAL STATES IS ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM. THE STANDARD-SETTING PROCESS INVOLVES INSERVICE PERSONNEL, LEGISLATORS, AND MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. IN MASSACHUSETTS, THE INITIAL FOCUS OF THE STANDARDS AND GOALS EFFORT IS ON MANPOWER-RELATED ISSUES. SIX PRIORITIES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED: MINORITY REPRESENTATION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY STAFFS; UTILIZATION OF WOMEN IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES; STAFF DEVELOPMENT FOR COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS; USE OF PARAPROFESSIONALS, VOLUNTEERS, AND EX-OFFENDERS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND PROMOTION STANDARDS; AND SPECIALIZED SKILLS, LATERAL ENTRY, AND EDUCATION AND TRAINING. ADVISORY TASK FORCES ARE ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES IN A LEAA-SUPPORTED EFFORT BUILDING ON THE WORK OF THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS.